Conveyer-controller.



wirnes ses.

M. P. CHAPLIN.

' CONVEYER CONTROLLER.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 28. I913.

1,2 1 7 ,4 1 2 Patented Feb. 27, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

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M. P. CHAPLIN.

CONVEYER CONTROLLER.

APPLICATION FILED on. 28. m3.

1,217,412. Patented Feb. 27, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Witnesses.

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MERLE P. CHAIPLIN, OF FAIRFIELD, MAINE, ASSIGNOR TO KEYES FIBRE COMPANY,OF

WATERVILLE. MAINE, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

CONVEYER-CO NTROLLER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 27, 1917.

Application filed. October 28, 1913. Serial No. 797,860.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MERLE P. CI-IAPLTN, citizen of the United States,residing at Fairfield, county of Somerset, State of Maine, have inventedan Improvement in Conveyor-Controllers, of which the followingdescription, in connection with the accompanying drawing, is aspecification, like characters on the drawing representing like parts.

This invention relates to an apparatus for drying articles newly formedof liquid pulp, such as pie plates and butter dishes, from which it isnecessary to remove a large quantity of moisture, although it is equallyuseful for the drying of other articles.

The apparatus is designed especially for use in connection with suchmachines as that shown in the prior Patent No. 740,023, granted to M. L.Keyes, September 29, 1903, for apparatus for making pulp articles. Inthat machine a series of molds are successively passedthrough a vatcontaining liquid pulp, the pulp being drawn by suction upon the face ofthe concave mold parts. The convex part of the mold is at the propertime applied to the concave part, and during their subsequent movements,the mold parts are subjected to a great compression which causes theproper molding of the article and also serves to squeeze out the greaterportion of the liquid constituent of the pulp.

It is necessary, however, to dry said articles, and they are usuallytransferred by a rotating series of suction nozzles from the moldingmachine to a drying mechanism. In the drawings of the present inventionone of the series of suction nozzles for removing the articles from themolds is shown as in a position to release the article upon the conveyerof the drying apparatus.

The drying apparatus proper, to which this invention relates, comprisesa chamber containing a series of two or more conveyers which pass oversuitable heating means. The molded article is deposited upon the upperlead of the first conveyer, is carried over the heating mechanism andthen transferred to a second conveyer which runs in the oppositedirection, and conducts the molded article over a second heating means.

The conveyers are usually made of reticulated wire cloth and in use itis found that they frequently shift from side to side, com

ing in contact with the sides of the chamber and .wearing them away byabrasion. This action also frequently results in wearing out or tearingof the edges of the conveyer.

The object of the present invention is to provide means for socontrolling the movement of the conveyer that it will be prevented fromany extended lateral movement, which would be likely to cause it toabrade the sides of the chamber.

A further object of the invention is to provide a means of adjustmentfor the conveyer, which will be controlled by the conveyer itself, insuch a manner as to auto matically regulate its direction of movedrierprovided with automatic conveyer controlling mechanism.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the portion of the I apparatus showing theconveyer controlling mechanism.

- Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view showing. a pair of conveyors, and meansfor regulating the same, comprising groups of three angularly adjustablerollers for each lead of each conveyer.

The apparatus comprises a drying chamber 1 which is. formed by heavyside frames or'wallsQ and 3 adapted to support the conveyer mechanism,and a thinner top 4, there being also a floor or bottom for the chamber,which is not shown in the drawing. The side walls 2 and 3 of the chamberare provided with recessesin whichthe bearings for suitable rollers forsupportingand driving a conveyer are mounted. These rollers comprise theusual parallel main end rolls 5 and 6 and tension rollers 7 and 8 aroundwhich the endless conveyer 9 is adapted to pass. Suitable drivingmechanism 10, 11 is provided for actuating the main rolls, and dryingmeans, such as a series of steam pipes 12 is arranged beneath the upperlead of the conveyor 9.

111 machines of this character the conveyor is usually formed ofreticulated wire fabric, and inasmuch as the conveyors are required tobe of considerable length, the weight of the same is carried in part byseveral, preferably idle, supporting rollers 13 mounted between the mainor end rolls.

By properly varying the angular position of the axis of one or more,preferably three, of such supporting rollers relative to the directionof movement of the conveyer, the lateral shifting of the conveyer may becontrolled so that the same may be prevented from shifting beyond theends of said main rolls and therefore from contacting with the sidewalls of the drying chamber. The angularly adjustable rolls which serveto guide the conveyer will hereafter be termed guiding rollers.

In Fig. 1, two connected adjustable guiding rollers 13 are shown,together with the means for eausii'ig their angular adjustment. Theseadjustable guiding rollers are provided with fixed bearings 14', mountedin re cesses 15 in the side wall 2 of the chamber, and with movablebearings 16 mounted in similar recesses in the side wall 3 of thechamber. As shown in the drawings, each movable bearing is provided withslots 17, through which pins or bolts 18 pass into the wall of thechamber, thus providing a means for the bearing to slide a limiteddistance longitudinally of the side wall. Each movable bearing 16 isprovided with a projection, such as a bracket 19, and the brackets oftWo or more of the movable bearings are connected together, preferablyby a wooden bar 20 thus causing all of the rollers of a group or seriesto have the same angular adjustment As the series or group of movablerollers underlies and supports a considerable portion of the conveyorthe simultaneous angular movement of the rollers of a group exerts aninfluence over a relatively large area of the conveyer and does notplace so great a strain upon a particular portion of the conveyor aswould occur by the angular adj ustment of a single roller. Thus damageto the reticulated fabric of which the conveyer is made is avoided.Furthermore the joint action of the rollers of a group effects a morepositive and consequently a more sensitive regulation of the directionof movement of the lead of the conveyer operated upon.

The adjustment of the movable bearings is accomplished through a bellcrank lever 21 pivotally mounted upon a bracket 22 secured to the sidewall 3 of the apparatus. The short arm 23 of the bell crank is attachedby an adjustable link 24: to the bracket 19 of one of the movablebearings 16. The other, or long arm 25, of the bell crank lever separatepiece.

the side walls of the chamber at right angles to the direction ofmovement of the conveyor belt. The guide is provided with anti frictionrollers 27, which are adapted to engage the edgesof the conveyor. Bythis construction it follows that any lateral shifting of the belt willcause an endwise movement of the guide 26, which in turn will cp eratethe bell crank lever to adjust the axial position of the supportingrollers relative to the direction of movement of the belt, and therebyimpart a tendency to the belt to shift in the other direction.

In order that the bell crank lever may be properly proportioned for itswork it is necessary that the arm which is attached to the guide shallbe of considerably greater length than the short arm, which is connectedto the bearing. in order that the adjusting mechanism may be sensitiveit is do sir-able that the weight of the parts should be reduced as muchas possible, consistent with necessary rigidity and strength, and it isalso desirable that the weight of all of the moving parts be carriedupon the pivotal bearing for the bell crank lever, it being understoodthat if desired, a tion bearing may be provided at this point to givegreater sensitiveness of movement to the parts. To accomplish the aboveends, it has been found desirable to construct the shorter arm of thebell crank lever and the pivotal portion by casting or forging, and tomake the longer arm of the lever in a In the embodiment of the inventionshown in the drawings, the shorter arm of the bell crank lever isprovided with oppositely extending projections 28 having flanges 29forming a channel. The longer arm of the lever 25 is preferably an ironbar which fits in said channel. and is secured thereto by suitablebolts. The long arm of the lever may be provided with an integral.extension 30 carrying a sliding weight 31 which will counter balance theweight of the long arm of the lever 25 and the guide 26. The weight maybe adjustably secured on the extension 30 in any desired position by aset screw 32 or other suitable fastening device.

The opposite end of the guide 26 to that which is supported bythe lever25 may also be supported in a similar manner. In the apparatus shown inthe drawing such a means is disclosed as consisting of a bracket 33secured to the side wall 2 of the frame and pivotally supporting a bar34:, which is secured at one end to the guide 26, and is provided at itsopposite end with a sliding weight 36 which may be adjusted tocounter-balance the weight of the guide.

suitable anti-fric- In operation the conveyer travels between theanti-friction rollers 27 of the guide 26. If the conveyer shiftslaterally it causes the guide to move endwise, thereby pushing the endof the arm 25 of the bell crank lever toward or from the side of thecasing. This movement causes the short arm 23 of the bell crank lever tomove forward or backward in a line substantially parallel with the sideof the casing, and by reason of its connection to the brackets 19 uponeach of the adjustable bearings of a group of miding rollers causes themovable end the rollers to simultaneously move backward or forward asthe case may be, thus adjusting the angular relation of said rollersrelatively to the direction of movement of the conveyer, whereupon theconveyer will be caused to shift in the opposite direction.

While a single adjustable guiding roller placed in advance of the endrolls carrying the conveyer will serve to properly control the lateralshifting of the conveyer, I have found by experience that the bestresults are obtained by providing a series of two or more, preferablythree, connected adj ustable rollers placed a short distance in advanceof each of the main rolls, and providing an idle roller between saidgroup of adjustable rollers and the main roll. This arrangement providesfor a. rapid adjustment, but one which is not so rapid as to cause anunnecessary lateral vibration of the conveyer.

The weights 32 and 36 serve to counterbalance the guide and the longerarm of the bell crank lever and cause the weight to be carried upon thepivotal supports on the brackets 21 and 33. By reason of these balancedparts adelicate adjustment is provided, so that the conveyer is causedto run in a substantially uniform path.

t is desirable that the adjustable guiding rollers of this charactershall be located a short distance in advance of the main roll for boththe upper and lower leads of the conveyer, and in Fig. 4t there isdiagrammatically illustrated a group 36 of three supporting rollers forthe upper lead of the conveyer, and a group 37 of three similarlyadjustable supporting rollers for the lower lead of the conveyer.

It will be understood that in drying machines of this character it iscustomary to provide a plurality of conveyers traveling in oppositedirections so that the articles may be passed back and forth through thedrying chamber until they are completely dried. In Fig. 4 two of suchconveyers with heating means therefor are shown, each of said conveyersbeing provided with adjustable supporting rollers of the character abovedescribed.

VVhile' this invention is primarily designed for an apparatus to be usedin drying articles molded from pulp, it is obvious that the invention isapplicable to conveyers used for other purposes, and it will beunderstood that the apparatus described herein is illustrative merely,and not restrictive.

Having fully described my invention,

what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is I 1. In anapparatus of the class described comprising a pair of rolls, an endlessconveyer of reticulated material passing over said rolls and means fordriving one of said rolls, means for controlling the lateral shifting ofsaid conveyer comprising a group of guiding rollers located beneath andsupporting the moving lead of said conveyer in ad vance of said drivenroll, said guiding rollers being spaced apart to support a relativelylarge area of said conveyer and means actuated by the lateral shiftingof the conveyer for simultaneously changing the angular position of saidguiding rollers to cause the conveyer to shift in the oppositedirection.

In an apparatus of the class described, comprising a pair of rolls, anendless conveyer of reticulated metallic material passing over saidrolls, and means for driving one of said rolls, means for controllingthe lateral shifting of said conveyer comprising a group of guidingrollers located beneath and supporting the moving lead ofsaid conveyerin advance of said driven roll, said guiding rollers being spaced apartto support a relatively large'area of said conveyer, a fixed idle rollhaving its axis parallel with that of, the driven roller locatedintermediate of said group of movable guiding rollers and a driven rolland means actuated by the lateral shifting of the conveyer forsimultaneously changing the angular position of said guiding rollers tocause the conveyer to shift in the opposite direction.

3. In an apparatus of the class described, a pair of parallel end rolls,means for driving the same, an endless conveyer mounted upon said rolls,a guiding roller mounted in proximity to and in advance of one of saidrolls, means for adjusting the angular posi- I tion of the axis of saidguiding roller, relative to the direction of movement of the conveyercomprlsing a slldable bearing for one end of said roller, a bell cranklever having one arm adjustably connected with said bearing, and meansconnected to the other arm of said lever adapted to engage the edges ofsaid conveyer, whereby any lateral shifting of the conveyer in onedirection will cause an angular adjustment of the guiding roller, andthereby cause the conveyer to shift in an opposite direction and meansfor counterbalancing the weight of the lever actuating means. I

4. In an apparatus of the class described, a pair of parallel end rolls,means for drivring the same, an. endless conveyer mounted upon saidrolls, a group of parallel guiding rollers each of which is providedwith a movable bearing, mounted in advance of one of said rolls, meansrigidly connecting the movable bearings, means for adjusting the angularposition of the axes of said guiding rollers, relative to the axes ofthe parallel rolls, comprising a bell cranklever having one armconnected with the movable bear ings of the supporting rollers, andmeans connected to the other arm of said lever adapted to engage theedges of said conveyer, whereby any lateral shifting of the conveyer inone direction would cause the angular adjustment of the guiding rollers,and a consequent shifting of the conveyer in the opposite direction.

5. In an apparatus of the class described, a conveyer and means fordriving the same, means for controlling the lateral shifting of saidconveye'r comprising a guiding roller having a movable bearing, a leverconnected to said bearing, a guide connected to said lever adapted toengage the edges of said conveyer and counter balancing means for saidlever and guide.

6. In an apparatus of the class described, a conveyer and means fordriving the same, means for controlling the lateral shifting of saidconveyer comprising a series of guiding rollers each having a movablebearing, a lever connected to the movable bearing of said guidingrollers, a guide connected to said lever adapted to engage the edges ofsaid conveyer and counter balancing means for said lever and guide.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

MERLE P. CHAPLIN.

Witnesses a W. P. SANBORN, C. W. VIGIRE.

Copiesof this patent may be obtained for five cents each. by addressingthe Commissioner of Eatents,

Washington, D. 0.

